Controlling device for pneumatic piano-players



M. NEWCOMER.

onmoum oEvlcE ron Pneumnc PIANO PLAYERS.

APPLICATION HLED 'IML 27. 1918.

yPatented Feb. 24,1920.

MARTIN COMPANY, OF ELIZABETH, NEWT JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0F NEWCOMER,PERTH AMBY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO VOLO'IONE NEW JERSEY.

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOB PNEUMAIIC PIANO-PLAYERS.

Application filed March 27, 1918.

To alt wlw/a t 'may 00m-ern:

Be it lrnown that I, MARTIN NnwooMnn, a. citizen ofthe United States,and residing in the city of Perth Amboy, county of Middlesex, in theState of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Controlling Devices for Pneumatic Piano-Players, of which thefollowing is a specication, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, forming a part hereof.

There is at the present time a demand, fostered by the makers ofexpensive player pianos, for the production of instruments which shallbe entirely automatic, except for the starting of the instrument and thereplacement of the perforated music-sheets, but shall be capable ofrenditions approach- .ing the artistic under the control of theperforated music-sheet. It is the objectl of this invention to providedevices, in such an instrument, whereby more artistic effects can beproduced under the control of the perforated music-sheetthan have beenpos-- sible heretofore. The invention isI applicable to the control ofthe dynamic force with which tones are produced, of the tempo, ofphrasing and of melody, but will be shown and described herein, by wayof illustration of the nature of the invention, in connection with thecontrol, through the movement of the hammer rest-rail, of the dynamicforce with which tones are produced. In the particular embodiment of theinvention which is chosen for illustration the position of the hammerrest-rail is controlled by a power pneumatic the operation of which isdetermined by side perforations in the music-sheet through devices whichregulate the connection of the power pneumatic with the atmosphere onthe one hand or with the exhaust system on the other hand, theconstruction of the devices being lsuch that the movement of the movablemember of the power pneumatic can be checked, continued or reversed atany point between its extremes, whereby any desired gradation in effectcan be accomplished.

In the drawing,--

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view` partly in elevation and partly insection, showing so much of a pneumatic player as; is necessary toenable the application of the invention to be understood.

Fig. 2 is a top view of portion of the lstructnre shown in Fig. 1.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 24, 1920.

serial No. 224.980.

Fig. 3 is a view in section, on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 ofFig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. a is a detail view in horizontal section through the tracker-bar,showing the valve-block in the chamber.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing the usualtracker-box a, is adapted to support in the usual manner a music-rollcarrying the usual perforated music-sheet c. i The latter is providedwith a series of perfor-ations c, near one edge, in addition to theusual perforations which determine the action of the hammer pneumatics.The perforations c/ are formed in longitudinal lines (with respect tothe musicsheet) and the displacement of each perforation toward one sideor the other determines a corresponding movement of the power pneumatic,the operation of which is to be controlled. Furthermore, each suchperforation, when it has brought about the desired operation of thepower pneumatic, is immediately blanked or prevented from having anyfurther effect, so that the movable member' of the power pneumaticremains in the position to which it was moved under` the influence ofsuch perforation until another perforation, at one side or the other ofthe first, is presented by the music-sheet at the line of action. tobring about a further and corresponding movement of such movable member.

The tracker-box L also includes the usual tracker-bar l which i-sprovided with the usual ports (not shown) for cooperation with the usualplayer perforations of the music-sheet and is also provided, in aposition corresponding to the position of the series of sideperforations ofthe musicsheet with a recess or chamber al', shown indotted lines in Fig, l. This recess or chamber al is open at the lsidenext the music-sheet and is tightlyy covered thereby so that it hasatmosphere, when the music-sheet is in position, except when one of theside perforations of the music-sheet passes over it. In the chamber disfitted, with afsliding it, a bridge or piston or valve-block e, theedge or side of which next the music-sheet is flush, with the surface ofthe tracker-bar. The thickness 0f this valve-block, in the direction oflength of the tracker-bar, is sufficient to blank or close completelythe side no communication with the,`

perforation in line with which it may stand. It is moved throughsuitable connections with the movable member of the power pneumatic,such as the connections hereinafter described, so that, as hereinafterindicated, it shall blank or prevent the further effect of any one ofthe side perforations as soon the power pneumatic has been operated tothe extent indicated by the position of such side perforation, wherebythe movable member of the power pneumatic will remain in the position towhich it has just been moved until another perforation, at one side orthe other of the iii-st, is presented by the music-sheet over thechamber al. The tempo or the dynamic force determined by the passage ofany one side perforation over the chamber' a will therefore be continueduntil a perforation in a diferent line passes over such chamber.

At each end of the chamber cl is a connection to a corresponding primarypneumatic by which thepower pneumatic is placed in conu'nunication withthe atmosphere or with the exhaust system. Since the valve-block e formsa movable partition between the two end portions of the chamber fZ, theadmission of air to one primary pneumatic or the other will depend uponthe position of the side perforation in the music-sheet with respect tethe position of the valve-block in the chamber.

In the construction shown the left hand end of the chamber d isconnected by a tube /f with a chamber g below the .usual diaphragm gz'ofa, primary pneumatic g, the chamber g being also connected through ableed-hole g3 with the chamber g4 above the diaphragm g2. The chamber g4is connected as usual, through a connecnection indicated g5; with theexhaust system of the player. The chamber g4' is also connected througha port g with the chamber 97, the port being normally closed by a valveg8, the stem of which rests as usual on the diaphragm g2, so that` whenatmospheric pressure is admitted to the chamber g, below the diaphragmg2, the

yvalve is lifted by the diaphragm so as to place the chamber Q7 inconnection with the exhaust system through the port g8. lhe chamber Q7is also connected, through a port g, normally closed by an upwardlyopening valve g1", with a chamber gu in direct communication, through aport gm, with the power pneumatic 7L. The latter is normally expandedeither through the action of a spring or by thevweight of the movablemember 7L. p

The other or right hand end of the cham- I ber d', in the constructionshown, is connected through a tube z' with a chamber lo" below thediaphragm. 7a2 of a second primary pneui'natic 1, the chamber c beingconnected through a bleed-hole k3 with the common chamber g* connectedas above described with the exhaust system through a common connectiong5. Ahoi/*e the chamber g4 and separated therefrom is a chamber 7c?which communicates with the atmosphere through a port 766, such portbeing; normally closed by a valve 7.68, the stem of which passes throughthe wall which separates the chamber 7c* from the chamber 1? and restsupon the diaphragm 7a2. "lhe chamber T communicates with the chamber gthrough a port 7c, which is normally closed by a downwardly opening,springsupported valve Zelo.

ln the application of the invention to the control of the dynamic forcetluough control of a hammer rest-rail, as illustrated in the drawing,the movable member it of the power pneumatic may be connected, throughsuitable connections indicated at ft2, with the swinging' rest-rail itsby which the throw of the hammers itt', and therefore the dynamic forceof the may be varied, as is well understood.

ln the construction shown the movable member t of the pov/er pneumatichas secured thereto an arm fr connected by a link LG with a rod 72,7which carries the movable valve-block c, so that the valve-block isshifted in the chamber' lf with every morement of the movable member 71,of the power pneumatic. i

lt will now be understood that wheneif'er a side perforation c passesover the chamber d at the left hand of the sli valvebloclr e air atatmospheric pressure will immediately be admitted to the chan'iher belowthe diaphragm g2, be lifted and the power pneumatic 72, will be placedin communication with the eX- haust system, causing the motor partei'movable member 7L to be moved and tie hammer rest-rail, or whateverother part may be connected therewith, to be moved correspondingly. Atthe same time the valve-block c, through the connections with the .motorpart It will be moved to the leftn until. it reaches the perforation c,there1 r blanling` or closing` such perforation checking the movement ofthe motor part and the valve-block. The diaphragm g2 will immediatelysink, by reason of the equalization of pressure through the bleed-holer(/3, the valve g8 will close the port gs and the motor part it will bebrought to' rest immediately in its new position. No further morcment ofthe motor part will. take place until another perforation c passes overthe chamber al. lf such new perforation be at the left of thevalve-block c, then a further movement of the motor part 72, ,in thesame direction will take place; but if such new perforation be at theright hand of the valve-block e, then air at atmospheric prestonesproduced,

the valve g8 willI sure will be admitted below the diaphragm L2 and thevalve los will be raised, thereby admitting air at atmospheric pressureto the chamber 7.27, through the valve 7cm to the chamber g and thepower pneumatic it, which will. then expand and at the same time movethe valve-block c to the right until it reaches and closes such new sideperforation, when the movement of the power pneumatic will ceaseandthere will be no further movement thereof until. another sideperforation is presented.

In Fig. l of the drawing the valve-block e is shown, for convenience, atthe extreme right hand end of the slot d', with the motor part 71, incorresponding position. With the parts in these positions, when the nextperforation in the music-sheetpasses over the chamber Z the diaphragm g2will immediately rise, lifting the valve g8, and the pneumatic h willcollapse until the valve-block c is moved into line with suchperforation, when the movement of the motor part h of the pneumatic andthe movement of the valve-block will cease, these parts remaining intheir new positions until another perforation of the music-sheet, at oneside or the other of the valve-block e, comes into registration with thechamber cl.

It will be Iunderstood that the side perforations are formed with thenecessary lead with respect to the corresponding note perforations. Itwill. also be understood that the power pneumatic may be coupled to anypart of the player necessary to give the effect desired, whether it be achange in dynamic force or tempo or anything affecting the rendition ofthe music, such power pneumatic being an expression device in this broadsense. Obviously, moreover, various changes in details of constructionand arrangement will be made to suit different conditions of use, theinvention not being restricted to the precise construction andarrangement shown and described herein.

While reference is made herein to the tracker-bar which is indicated inthe drawing as the ordinary tracker-bar of a player piano, it will beunderstood that the recess or chamber with its sliding valve-block mightbe located in a supplementary tracker-bar either above or below theordinary or main tracker-bar, it being merely a matter of giving theproper lead to the expression perforations in the music-sheet to suitthe location of such recess.

i claim as my invention:

l. A piano player including in combination a pneumatic expressiondevice, pneumatic controlling devices for said. expression device, atracker-bar having a longitudinal recess adapted to be covered by themusicsheet and to be placed in communication.

with the atmosphere through perforations in the music-sheet, pneumaticconnections from the ends of said recess to said pneumatic controllingdevices respectively, and a transverse partition in said recess.

2. A piano player including in combination a pneumatic expressiondevice, pneumatic controlling devices for said expression device, atracker-bar having a longitudinal recessadapted to be covered by themusicsheet and to be placed in communication with the atmosphere throughperforations in the music-sheet, pneumatic connections from the ends ofsaid recess to said pneumatic controlling devices respectively, and atransverse partition movable longitudinally in said recess.

3. A piano player including in combina-v tion a pneumatic expressiondevice, pneumatic controlling devices for said expression device, atracker-bar having a longitudinal recess adapted to be covered by themusicsheet and to be placed in communication with the atmosphere throughperforations in the music-sheet, pneumatic connections from the ends ofsaid recess to said pneumatic controlling devices respectively, atransverse partition movable longitudinally in said recess, and meanswhereby said partition is moved in harmony with the movements of thepneumatic expression device.

.L. .-i piano player including in combination a pneumatic expressiondevice, a tracker-bar having a longitudinal recess, a perforatedmusic-sheet, pneumatic controlling devices connected respectively withthe ends of said recess to bring about the operation of said expressiondevices under the control of perforations of the music-sheet, and avalve-block movable longitudinally in said recess to close eachperforation immediately after the corresponding operation of theexpression device has been initiated.

5. A piano player including in combination a pneumatic expressiondevice, a tracker-bar having a longitudinal recess, a perforatedmusic-sheet, pneumatic controlling devices connected respectively withthe ends of said recess to bring about the operation of said expressiondevices under the control of perforations of the music-sheet, and avalve-block movable longitudinally in the recess, and operativeconnections whereby the valve-block is moved in harmony with themovement of the expression device and further operation of theexpression device is prevented until a differently placed perforation ispresented by the music-.sheet at the line of action.

This specilication signed this 12th day of March, 1918.

MARTIN NEWCOMER.

